In-mold antenna, apparatus for controlling antenna characteristics and method for manufacturing in-mold antenna

Abstract

An in-mold antenna include a first antenna pattern having a first surface and a second surface, interposed between the first and second surface, a second antenna pattern that is attached to the first surface of the first antenna pattern and through which current passes from the first antenna pattern, and a cut section provided by cutting the first antenna pattern at the second surface. By controlling the shape of the cut section, it is possible to affect resonance characteristics of the antenna, and a corresponding apparatus and method do so.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An in-mold antenna comprising:
 a first antenna pattern having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first antenna pattern is interposed between the first surface and the second surface;   a second antenna pattern that is attached to the first surface of the first antenna pattern and through which current passes from the first antenna pattern; and   a cut section formed by cutting the first antenna pattern at the second surface.   
     
     
         2 . The in-mold antenna of  claim 1 , wherein an area of the cut section is increased in proportion to an impedance of the first antenna pattern. 
     
     
         3 . The in-mold antenna of  claim 1 , wherein the cut section is formed by laser cutting, and
 the cut section is formed by cutting from the second surface across towards the first surface.   
     
     
         4 . The in-mold antenna of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the cut section is less than a width of the first antenna pattern. 
     
     
         5 . The in-mold antenna of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the cut section is greater than or equal to a width of the first antenna pattern. 
     
     
         6 . The in-mold antenna of  claim 1 , wherein the cut section extends to be formed into a portion of the second antenna pattern. 
     
     
         7 . The in-mold antenna of  claim 1 , wherein an aspect of the shape of the cut section is chosen to affect a resonance frequency of the first antenna pattern. 
     
     
         8 . The in-mold antenna of  claim 7 , wherein the aspect of the shape of the cut section is an area of the cut section, a position of the cut section, a direction of the cut section, or a thickness of the cut section. 
     
     
         9 . The in-mold antenna of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional cut section formed by cutting the first antenna pattern at the second surface. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for controlling antenna characteristics, the apparatus comprising:
 a characteristics inspector configured to inspect characteristics of a first antenna pattern provided with a second antenna pattern that is attached to a first surface of the first antenna pattern;   a cutter configured to cut the second surface of the first antenna pattern to form a cut section; and   a cut controller configured to determine characteristics of a cut section that is cut by the cutter on the basis of characteristics inspected by the characteristics inspector.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the characteristics inspector applies current to the first antenna pattern to inspect a resonance frequency or an impedance of the first antenna pattern. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein in response to a resonance frequency of the first antenna pattern inspected by the characteristics inspector being higher than a first frequency, the cutter cuts a portion of the second antenna pattern together with the first antenna pattern. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein in response to a resonance frequency of the first antenna pattern inspected by the characteristics inspector being equal to or lower than a second frequency, the cutter stops cutting the first antenna pattern. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the cut controller compares an impedance of the first antenna pattern inspected by the characteristics inspector with a reference impedance to determine an area of the cut section cut by the cutter on the basis of impedance comparison results. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein an aspect of the shape of the cut section is chosen to affect a resonance frequency of the first antenna pattern. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the aspect of the shape of the cut section is an area of the cut section, a position of the cut section, a direction of the cut section, or a thickness of the cut section. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the cutter is further configured to cut the second surface of the first antenna pattern to form at least one additional cut section. 
     
     
         18 . A method for controlling antenna characteristics comprising:
 forming a first antenna pattern with a second antenna pattern that is attached to a first surface of the first antenna pattern;   inspecting characteristics of the first antenna pattern; and   cutting at least a portion of a second surface of the first antenna pattern to form a cut section.